Apparatus for cleaning ballast



July 4, 1939. H. w. PROTZELLER APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed May2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l RN QM 0M km Jam; 42 WW WZZ/zess: 16.

July 4, 193 H. w. PROTZELLER APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed May 2,1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y 4, 1939. H. w. PROTZELLER 2,165,068

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed May 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 (i/ Zgghl w July 4, 1939. H. w. PROTZELLER APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLASTFiled May 2, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 July 4, 1939. H. w. PROTZELLERAPPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST Filed May 2, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 5Patented July 4, 1939 PATENT ori ce APPARATUS FOR CLEANING BALLAST HarryW. Protzeller, Fairmont, Minn., assignor to Fairmont Railway Motors,Inc., Fairmont, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application May 2,1936, Serial No. 77,598

5 Claims. (Cl. 209-324) This invention relates to improvements inmethods of and apparatus for cleaning ballast and it consists of thematters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in theappended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention, is to provide a method ofcleaning ballast material excavated from'track wherein the ballastmaterial is given a vigorous rolling and tumbling action in itsadvancing movement over cleaning screens or grates to release andseparate the lighter and finer particles of the fouling matter in saidmaterial from the heavier and larger pieces thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for this purposewherein the advancing ballast material is agitated while on the cleanerscreen and is caused to retrogress at least in part during its generallyadvancing movement so that the ballast as a whole is maintained on saidscreen for a longer period of time than would otherwise be the case andso that the material may be more thoroughly cleaned in a relativelyshort apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel apparatuswhereby the improved method may be carried out as a continuous operationas the apparatus moves along a railroad track.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forcleaning ballast including an upwardly and rearwardly inclined siftinggrate or screen and associated ballast advancing means, at least aportion of which screen coacts with the advancing means to impart arolling or tumbling action to the ballast material as it passes over thescreen and thereby to remove the fouling matter from the ballast.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus forcleaning ballast including an upwardly and rearwardly inclined screencapable of being vibrated, as the ballast advances over the same,whereby the ballast material is tumbled and caused to rid itself offouling matter which falls through the screen for disposal.

The above mentioned objects of the invention,

- as well as others, together with the advantages thereof will morefully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of the cleaner box of the improvedapparatus, with parts broken away better to illustrate the structure ofthe box;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view through a part of thecleaner box as taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view on an enlarged scale, partly in sideelevation and partly in longitudinal section of parts appearing in themidportion of Fig. 1 and which will be more fully referred to later; 7

Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional view through a partof the cleaner box, illustrating a modified form of mounting for a partof the cleaner screen or grate;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structureshown in Fig. 4 as taken on the line 5-5 of said Fig. 4;

Fig. 6' is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a part of the cleanerbox showing a further modified form of mounting for a part of thecleaner screen or grate;

Fig. '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the structureshown in Fig. 6 as taken on the line 1-1 of said Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view in side elevation of a part of the cleanerbox showing still a further modified form of the cleaner screen or grateand mounting therefor, and

Fig. 9 is -a transverse vertical sectional view through the structureshown in Fig. 8 as taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8.

Referring now in detail to that embodiment of the drawings, illustratedin Figs. 1, 2 and 3 respectively, Ill indicates as a whole the cleanerbox of the apparatus. Said cleaner box is carried at each side of arailroad vehicle (not shown herein) in a manner whereby the box may beraised out of its working position in a ballast shoulder or intertrackspace of a railroad, and when in its raised position may be retractedinwardly into a non-working position upon the vehicle. When in thenon-working position, trains on adjacent track may pass with ampleclearance whether in working a section of track or being transportedfrom one place of use to another.

The cleaner box includes a pair of laterally spaced vertically edgewisedisposed inner and outer side plates H and [2 respectively.-' Saidplates are held in spaced relation by means of suitable cross membersand by a plurality of shafts as will later appear. Connecting the frontbottom corners of said plates is a ballast breaking member l4. When thecleaner box is in working position in ballast [5, the breaking memberworks along the top or grade of the sub-ballast I6 and lifts the ballastupwardly to break the bond between and loosen up the pieces of rock orstone constituting the ballast.

Projecting forwardly from the front edge of each side plate is agathering wing I! which operates to cut through the ballast vertically.Each wing is pivoted at its rear margin as at l8 to suitable cornerbrackets I9 on the outside of said front end of the associated sideplate.

Between the side plates and beginning at a point spaced rearwardly ofthe breaking member I4, is an upwardly and rearwardly inclined screen orgrate indicated as a whole at 2B. The front lower end portion of thescreen comprises a plurality of foraminous plate-members 2! which arerigidly secured to the side plates H and i2 respectively. At the extremefront end of the front plate-like member 2! is a sub-ballast plow 22which is so set as to operate about in the plane of the top of thesub-ballast Is as left by the breaking member I 4.

The upper rear end portion of the screen or plate comprises a pluralityof foraminous platelike sections 23- 23a-23b and 230 respectively, eachhaving an undulatory'or corrugated top surface 24 wherein the hills andvalleys of the corrugations extend transversely of the plates. In thisinstance, these plates are not rigidly fixed to the side plates but areso mounted as to have a limited movement with respect to said sideplates so as to be capable of vibrating in a vertical plane.

As shown herein, each plate 2323a and 23b is provided on its undersidewith front and rear end pairs of depending bosses 25. A bar 26 extendstransverselyof the plates and passes not only through the bosses of eachpair but also through and beyondsuitable openings provided,

therefor in the side plates H and I2 respectively. Each end of each bar26 is pivotally engaged in the bifurcated lower end of a suspending link21. This link is in the form of a bolt and extends upwardly to passthrough an associated laterally extending bracket 28 carried by theassociated plate H or I2. A helical expansion spring 29 surrounds thatpart of each link between its bracket 28 and a nut and washer 30 on thetop end of said link.

The front lower end of the rear plate 230 is provided with a bar 26asimilar to the bar 26 and said bar 26a extends transversely of the plateand passes thzough suitable openings provided therefor in said sideplates I I and I2 respectively. Each end of this bar ispivotally'engaged in the bifurcated upper end of a supporting link 21a.This link is also-in the form of a bolt and extends down through alaterally extending bracket 28a on the associated side plates ll-|2. Ahelical spring 29a surrounds that part of each link between its bracketand bifurcated end. This structure is substantially the reverse of thestructure before described and this reversal is necessary to avoid acertain casing carried by one of the side plates as will later appear.

The upper rear end of the'rear plate 230 rests upon a roller 3| mountedupon a cross shaft 32 interposed between the side plates H and I2.

Also arranged in the cleaner box between the side plates thereof andabove the grate or screen is an endless digger chain 33 of a widthapproximating that of the grate or screen. This chain is made up oflateral chain members including links trained about a plurality of idlersprockets 34 and a driving sprocket 35. The idler sprockets are mountedon cross shafts 36 and the driving sprockets which are disposed aboveand to the rear of the top end of the grate are mounted on a cross shaft37. Extending between the side chain members of the endless chain aredigger members in the form of flights or paddles 38 each of whichinclude openings 39 as best appears in Figs. 2 and 3.

The various sprockets before mentioned are so arranged that the lowerlap of the chain extends substantially parallel with the grate or screen20, the adjacent portion of the chain, as it approaches said lower topextending in a downward and rearward direction. In operation, the

chain runs in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 1. The shaft 31 isdriven by a sprocket and a chain 4| from the shaft 42 driven throughsuitable reduction gearing 43 from a motor 44 carried on the cleaner boxtoward the front end thereof.

' The chain M and associated sprockets are enclosed in a casing 45 andit is this casing which necessitates the reversed supporting mechanismbefore described, for the front end of the grate or screen plate 230. Y

The flights or paddles 38 are so constructed that their tip marginaledges will engage the undulatory top surfaces of the grate or screenplates 23-23a-23b and 230 respectively. As here shown, that portion-ofthe chain above the grate or screen plates 23-23(1 is held againstupward movement as the flights pass over the corru gations of saidplates by means such as follows:

Engaging with this part of the chain members of said chain from above,are rollers 46 arranged in transverse pairs. The rollers of each pairare mounted on transverse shaft 86a journalled in a pair of longitudinalside bars 41. These side bars have the bottom end of suspending links 48pivoted thereto as at 49, the top ends of said links being pivoted oncross shafts 50-50 carried by the side plates II and I2.

The front end of the bars 41 are each pivotally connected to the pistonrod 5| of a hydraulic cylinder 52 that is pivoted to the associated sideplate II or l2 as at 53. When pressure fluid enters the rear ends of thecylinders, this retracts the piston rods 5| to exert a pull on the bars41. By reason of the link suspension of said bars, they are swungforwardly and downwardly so that the rollers 48 operate as rollingshoulders which determine the position of the chain members of the chainwith respect to the yieldably mounted grate plates 23 and 23a. Thus asthe chain is driven, tip margins of the flights 38 on the lower lapthereof ride on or follow the undulatory surfaces of the plates. Due tothe yielding mounting for said plates, the plates are caused to move upand down in planes parallel to their suspension links so that theyreceive a vibratory movement. It is apparent that by means of thecylinders 52, the hold down effect of the rollers may be controlledasdesired.

Beneath the greater rear end portion of the grate or screen mentionedand extending to the rear end of the side plates is located a dirtpickup mechanism indicated as a whole as at 60. This mechanism includesan imperforate plate 6| that extends at substantially the same angle ofinclination as that of the grate or screen before mentioned. This plateengages at its lateral margins with the side plates so as to provide abottom for the cleaner box at this point. The front bottom end ofthisplate is provided with a levelling or compacting lip 62 so arranged asto engage the top surface of, the sub-ballast IS. The rear end of saidplate terminates short of the rear edge of the cleaner box tocommunicate with a lateral discharge chute 63.

Above thisplate or bottom is an endless chain 64 comprising a pair ofside chain members and cross flights 65, the chain traveling in thedirection of the arrows. The chain members are trained about front andrear end sprockets 66 and 61, the latter of which constitutes thedriving sprockets for the chain. These driving sprockets are mounted ona cross shaft 68, carried in bearing blocks 69, that are longitudinallyadv justable in suitable openings provided therefor in the side platesII and I2. Said blocks are capable of being adiusted in said openings bymeans of suitable screws 10 whereby the tension of said chains may beregulated. The shaft 38 may be driven in any suitable manner. Ifdesired, a driving chain may be provided between the said shaft 68 andthe shaft 31 before mentioned.

Along the inner surfaces of the side plates II and I2, above andsubstantially parallel with the plate BI, is a pair of angle bars whichsupport a plate Ii upon which the flights for the top lap of the chain64 ride. The flights of the bottom lap of the chain ride or engageedgewise upon the plate 6| so as to act as moving scrapers thereon.

When the cleaner box is in operation, the wings il-ll operate. to cutvertical slits in the ballast. It is to be noted from l5 down to thesub-ballast. Fig. 1 that when the flights or paddles on the chain 33pass about the frontmost of the idler sprockets 34, they enter into thespace between said wings and operate in conjunction with the forwardmovement of thecleaner box to move the ballast rearwardly upon the frontend portion of the grate or screen 20. This carries the ballast upwardlyand rearwardly over the front end portion 2| of the grate and then ontothe first vibratory plate 23 and from thereon, onto the successivevibratory plates 23a-23b and 23c.

As the ballast moves upwardly over the fixed front end portion 2| of thegrate, portions of the ballast pass rearwardly through the openings inthe flights so that the ballast material has a rolling tumbling actionimparted thereto. This causes a relative movement and engagement betweenthe stone and the like constituting the ballast which tends to removethe dirt and the like therefrom. The dirt falls through the openings insaid end of the grate to be deposited upon the sub-grade i6.

As the ballast material is successively moved by the flights onto thegrate plate sections 23- 23c-23b and 23c, the engagement of the tips ofthe flights 38 with the undulatory surfaces of said plate sections causethem to vibrate. This vibration is imparted to the ballast material tocause a better relative movement and engagement between the largerpieces in the ballast, i. e., the

ballast proper so that the foul material which is adhered thereto, isdislodged. This action, together with the tumbling action caused by theballast material passing backward, at least in part, through theopenings in the flights, by reason of the piling up action of thematerial in the front of the flights, thoroughly cleans the" ballastmaterial of the fouling matter which falls through the grate or screenand partly onto the sub-ballast in front of the lip 62 and partly ontothe plate II. As the top lap of the chain 64 travels forwardly anddownwardly on the plate ii, the flights 65 carry it down so as to bedeposited on the front bottom end of the plate 6|. The flights 65 thuscarries the fouling matter or dirt, up the plate 6i for discharge at itstop rear end to the chute 63.

It is to be noted that by reason of .the openings in the flights, notonly is the tumbling and rolling action imparted to the ballast but theballast material remains on the grate for a longer period of time forthe cleaning operation. It should be understood that this mechanism,while useable elsewhere, is particularly designed for operation as apart of a railroad ballast cleaner. In railroad practice there are spacelimitations results even on a relatively short screen because thematerial is held on the screen for a longer period. Naturally, the costof producing such smaller mechanism is less, the weight of the parts isless and the entire machine design is aided by this feature.

As the cleaned ballast reaches and passes off the rear end plate 230, itdumps onto a chute (not shown) for a discharge from the cleaner box, asdesired.

It is to be noted that the fouled ballast is advanced upwardly andrearwardly of the grate and that in this advancing movement, a tumblingor rolling action is imparted that causes a more vigorous relativemovement between the ballast pieces. This insures the dislodgment of thefouling material from the larger particles 'or ballast proper andresults in the thorough cleaning of the ballast material. Thus eventhough the ballast contains a high percentage of moisture which is heldin place by the fouling matter, the cleaning action is still quiteeffective.

From the above, it is apparent that vibration is imparted to the plates23-23a--23b and 23c by reason of the riding engagement of the tips ofthe flights over the undulatory surface of said pates and that thisvibration may be said to be in a vertical plane or in a directionparallel with the edgewise planes of the side plates. If desired, thisvibration may be a rotary one in a plane at a right angle to theedgewise-planes of the side plates.

In Figs. 6 and 7, I have shown a structure whereby such lateral rotaryvibration may be imparted to said plates and such means is as follows:

The suspending bolt-like links 21. are provided at their bottom endswith eccentric straps 12 which operatively engage upon eccentrics i3fixed to longitudinal shafts IL-14. These shafts, which have the sameangle of inclination as the grate 20 as a whole, are journalled inbrackets slightly less than that of the inside width of the' cleanerbox. Thus when the shafts 14 are being driven, the plates 23 and 23areceive a lateral rotary reciprocatory vibration or movement of anextent equal the throw of the eccentrics 13 with respect to the shafts14. In this movement of the plates, it is apparent that the suspendinglinks rock laterally in their brackets 28. To accommodate this laterallyrocking movement of said links, a hardened convex washer I9 isinterposed between the associated springs 29 and the bracket 28.

When the shafts 14 are driven, it is apparent that the eccentrics 13through the straps l2 and bars 26a impart a lateral, rotaryreciprocatory vibration to the plates. As the tips of the flights orpaddles pass over the undulatory surfaces of the plates they operate asbefore, and this in connection with the lateral rotary reciprocatoryvibration of the plates, causes an intimate contact between the ballastpieces. Also, in the lateral vibration of the plates, the rolling andtumbling of the ballast pieces is increased for a better cleaning actionthereof.

Should. it be desired to rely only upon the travelling engagement of theflight tips on the undulatory surfaces of the plates for the agitationof the ballast pieces so that the tumbling and rolling action: alonetakes place, this result may be attained in the following structure:

Instead of yieldingly supporting the plates 23 to 230 inclusive, theymay be made rigid with respect to the side plates H and i2. With such astructure, said plates are provided with lateral ears that are engagedagainst and are secured to the plates ii and i2 as by the bolts 8! asappear in Figsmi and 5. With'such a structure, the tips of the flights38 will follow the undulatory surfaces of the plates and, of course,must rise and fall in accordance with the disposition of said surface.When the said plates are held against movement, the chain holdingrollers 46 and associated elements are omitted.

In Figs. 8 and 9, I have illustrated another method of impartingvibratory movement to the plates and in this instance the movement is alongitudinally reciprocable vibratory one. In said figures 23.1: and2311 indicate two only of the grate plates, each of which in thisinstance has a plane fiat top surface and the upper rear end of oneplate overlaps the front bottom end of the other plate for a slidingsupporting action thereon.

"The front bottom end of each plate has a supporting engagement on atransverse roller 82 supported on a shaft 83 secured at its ends'in theside plates H and i2 of the cleaner box. In the plane of the overlappingor'meeting ends of two of such plates is a reciprocatory member 84standing perpendicular to the plane of said plates. Each member 84 hassliding bearing in bearing sleeves 85 provided on the outer surface ofthe asso-' ciated side plate H or l2.

About midway between the ends of each plate is a laterally extendingstud 86 which passes out through suitable openings provided therefor inthe side plates i i and I2 of the cleaner box. Pivotally connected toeach stud is one end of a link 81., the other end of both links beingpivotally connected to the reciprocatory member 84 at a point betweenthe pairs of bearing sleeves therefor.

Extending transversely through the side plates H and I2 of the cleanerbox, in the plane of the reciprocatory members 84 above the top endsthereof is a suitably drivenshaft 88. This shaft is journalled in boxesin ,the side plates and on each end thereof is an eccentric 89. Engagedon each eccentric is the top end strap of a connecting rod 9|, thebottom end of'which is pivotally connected to the top end of theassociated reciprocatory member 84.

When the shaft 88 is being driven, the members 84 -are reciprocated intheir bearing sleeves by reason of the eccentrics 89 and connecting rodspreviously mentioned. This motion is translated into a longitudinalopposed reciprocation of the two plates 23.2: and 2311 through the links81.

Thus as the ballast material is advanced over said plates by means ofthe flights 38, the said material is thoroughly agitated and the rollingand tumbling action thereon is increased. This action in connection withthe piling up and spilling of the ballast material, at least in part,through the openings 39, operates to thoroughly clean the ballast. It isapparent from the foregoing that the ballast material is maintained invibration and is. caused to be retained for a longer period of time onthe plates than has heretofore been possible. Thus thecleaning action onthe ballast material is enhanced. Also, this is accomplished-withapparatus occupying less space than has heretofore been possible. Thevarious advantages will read- 1 1. An apparatus for cleaning foulballast which includes an upwardly inclined screen resiliently mounted,conveyor means for moving ballast upwardly along said screen includingflights, means on the screen cooperating with means on the flights toeffect vibration of the screen during movement of the conveyor means forthe purpose of dislodging fouling material from the ballast.

2. An apparatus for cleaning foul ballast which includes an upwardlyinclined screen resiliently mounted, a conveyor arranged above andtraveling longitudinally with respect to the screen and carrying flightsand means on said screen cooperating with means on said flights toeffect vibration of said screen during movement of said conveyorv forthe purpose of dislodging fouling material from the ballast.

3. An apparatus for cleaning foul ballast which includes an upwardlyinclined screen resiliently mounted, a conveyor arranged above andtraveling longitudinally with respect to said screen and carryingflights having openings therein through which ballast may move in adirection opposite that of the movement of the conveyor and means onsaid screen cooperating with means on the flights to effect vibration ofthe screen during movement of the conveyor for the purpose of dislodgingfouling material from the ballast.

4. An apparatus for cleaning ballast which includes an upwardly inclinedresiliently mounted screen having an undulating ,top surface, a conveyorhaving a portion arranged in operative relation above said screen andincluding flights adapted for moving engagement with parts of saidsurface for producing relative vibratory movement between said screenand conveyor, said flights having openings therethrough for the passageof ballast therethrough in a direction opposite that of the movement ofsaid conveyor.

5. An apparatus for cleaning foul ballast which includes an upwardlyinclined screen, a conveyor having aportion arranged in operativerelation above said screen and including chains and flights between saidchains and said screen, said flights having a continuous lower portioncontacting the screen and laterally spaced openings above said portion,the flights being of such height as to prevent material dischargingthereover and cooperating with the screen to prevent retrograde movementexcept at said laterally spaced openings in the flights, said apparatusin-

